Stamping or labeling machine



July 13, 1954 S. R. PHIN ET AL STAMPING OR LABELING MACHINE fx INVENTORS52, 5|DNEY R. PHIN I u DONALD A. cAuL FORD Y July 33, 1954 Filed OCL.3l, 1951 S. R. PHIN ET AL STAMPING 0R LABEL'ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2lNvENTons SIDNEY R, PHIN DONALD A. CAl/LFORD' July 13, 1954 s. R. PHINETAL 2,683,549

STAMPING 0R LABELING MACHINE Filed oct, 31, 1951 4 sheetssheet 3 NVENTRSHDNEY R. PmN DONALD A.CAU LFORD July 13, 1954 S. R. PHIN EVAL 2,583,549

STAMPING OR LABELING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4lNvEmoRs SIDNEY R. PHIN :Figli .DONALD A. cAuLFoRD 6 ,49 V 7a4 sPatented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAMPING OR LABELINGMACHINE Application October 31, 1951, Serial No. 254,167

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic labelling orstamping machines and more particularly to an improved mechanism forconforming a label, excise stamp or the like to the surface of anarticle or container being labelled to urge the label or stamp intointimate contact throughout its entire area with the container surfaceand to maintain such intimate contact for a period sufficient forcomplete adhesion to be effected.

In co-pending application Serial Number 147,916 there is disclosed anautomatic labeller comprising a mechanism for applying a label to acontainer and a mechanism for applying pressure on the applied labelduring an interval sufficient to ensure adhesion of the label.

Such pressure applying mechanism is adapted to conform the label to aconvex, plane or angular surface but is unable to conform the labelthroughout its entire area to some surfaces having a concavity or aycurvature in which there is a point of inflexion as the surface changescurvature.

For example, in the applying of an excise stamp across the top down theneck and over the shoulders of a bottle, abrupt changes and reversals ofcurvature are encountered and there is at present no provision forconforming the stamp intimately to such a surface formation in anautomatic labelling machine.

Again where a surface presents a concave or concavo-convex surface thesame problem is encountered and Without the intimate contact beingobtained a proper adherence of the label or stamp is not effected.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mechanismwhich will overcome the limitations of the present labellers and conforman excise stamp to the top, neck and shoulders of a bottle or a label toa concaved surface so that the stamp or label is pressed into intimatecontact With the surface throughout its entire area.

A further object is to enable such surfaces to be labelled with anautomatic labeller of the type disclosed in said application Serial No.147,916 in which the labels are deposited on the containers and thenpressed to intimate contact therewith While the containers move withcontinuous uninterrupted motion through the machine.

The principal feature of the invention resides in dividing each of thelabel-pressing surfaces of the presser mechanism into a series ofindependently movable segments contoured to conform to the shape of thesegment of the container surface to which a label or stamp is to beapplied, mounting the presser segments for movement in unison to acontainer co-operating position from which they can individually beclosed on the container While moving substantially normal to thecontainer segment they are adapted to conform to, and providing meansfor rst moving the segments in unison to container co-operating positionand then independently to close on the container and press a stamp orlabel against the container without sliding over or pulling of thelabel.

More particularly the presser mechanism comprises an endless series ofpresser elements mounted to move above and at the same surface speed asa carrier on which the containers being stamped or labelled are beingconveyed. Each of these presser elements includes a verticallyreciprocal plunger carrying the container pressing segments supportedtherefrom and a series of cams are arranged first, to vertically operatethe plungers into engagement with the containers while moving at thespeed of the containers and 1 to then operate the presser segments toclose on the container surface segments opposite thereto while movingsubstantially normal to the opposing container surface portions.

A further feature consists in making the presser surfaces of a resilientcushioning media.

Another feature resides in mounting the presser segments for readyinterchangement to enable the presser to be quickly modified to tdifferent types of containers.

Still a further feature resides in mounting the presser segments forselective relative adjustment, and again another feature resides inmounting the entire presser mechanism for vertical adjustment fordifferent sizes of containers.

These and other objects and features will become apparent with referenceto the accompanying description taken in conjunction with the drawingsin which Figure 1 is an elevational view of a labelling or stampingmachine to which the improved presser mechanism has been applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view partly broken away showing oneof the presser devices conforming a label to a bottle.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the presser devicesWith the presser segments in open position.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the device of Figure 4 taken from theopposite side.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the device of Figures 4 and 5 showingthe presser segments operated in closed position conforming a label to abottle.

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line 1 -i of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the presser mechanism, frame assembly andendless carrier with the presser devices omitted.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the assembly of Figure 8.

Figure l is an enclosed fragmentary planv and horizontal section of themain frame of the machine showing the mechanism for elevating the framecarrying the presser mechanism, and the drive to the presser mechanism.

Figure l1 is a rear elevation of a portion of the machine shown inFigure 10.

With reference to the drawings, the presser mechanism is shown appliedto an automatic labelling or stamping machine of the type disclosed inthe above application and as thev detailsof the construction of themachine, the drive therefor, the label-applying mechanism and thetiming' mechanism form no part of the present invention the details ofthe construction thereof are omitted.

Basically the machine consists ofv side frames l having arms 2 extendingfrom the ends thereof. endless conveyor 3r operating over sprockets 4 ateach end of the machine. The conveyor is provided with a series of lugs5 to engage and advance a bottle o'r container 6 longitudinally of themachine.

The drive for the conveyor is obtained from a suitable motor 1 whichdrives a variable drive mechanism 8 which in turn drives a reductiongear 9 from which is driven the main drive shaft I0, Figures l and 10;

The variable drive mechanism 8 is operated through a control shaft II-to alter the speed of the main drive shaft I0 and a hand wheel I2-permits the main drive shaft to be manually rotated.

I3 isV a vacuum pump for applying vacuum to the label-withdrawing armlIll.

The drive from the main drive shaft I0 tothe sprocket 4 is controlled bya timing mechanism I5` operated by the hand Wheel I5. This hand wheeloperates a crank I1 which alters the positions of the sprockets ISaround which drive chain I3 pass to advance or retard the position ofthe lugs 5 so that they can be timed to register a bottle or containerwith the presser mech- I anism hereinafter described.

Slidably mounted in brackets onthe rear side frame i, Figures l0 and l1,are vertical rack bars 2I which carry a platform 22. Journalled betweenlugs 23 is a shaft 25 extending longitudinally of the machine andvcarrying pinions 26 engaging the rack bars 2.

Extending transversely through the machine is a shaft 2l operated byhand wheel 28, Figure 1, which carries a worm 29, Figures l0 and l1,which meshes with a worm wheel 30 carried by the shaft 25 to elevate therack bars and platform 22.

The mechanisms carried by the platform 22 are driven from the main driveshaft I0 by the worin` 3I carried thereby and engaging a worm wheel 32splined on a vertical shaft 33, the worm wheel being held in position bya bracket 34 while permitting vertical movement of the shaft 33 as theplatform is elevated and lowered.

Between these side frames I operates an Mounted on the vertical shaft 33adjacent the platform is a bevelled gear 35 meshing with a bevel gear 36carried by a stud shaft 31 from which the drive for the label-applyingmechanism is obtained. This drive is not shown nor are details of thelabel-applying mechanism, which comprises a drum 38 adapted to pick up alabel 39 from the magazine 40 following withdrawal by the 'scker'arm I4,andorre surface of this label is coated by glue from the gluepotassembly 4I and then deposited on the container 6.

As thev drive-for the mechanisms on the platform is obtained from thevertical shaft 33, which'V iirturnA i`s driven by the main drive shaftI6', thev drives 'of' the mechanisms on the platform will' bemainta'iii'e'dAV at all times in synchronism with' the" conveyor 3.-

Mounted on the platform 22 are a pair of verticallyspaced horizontalplates 42 of triangular formation separated by spacers 43. These platesand spacers"v constitute the fra'rne ofi the presser mechanism-and thevertical shaft 3'3" c'arrying the drive from the main drive shaftr I0 tothe mechanisms of the platform extends through the plates 42 adjacentone apex thereof terminating in the tting 44'.

Mounted on the shaft 33 between the'plat'e's' 42V are a pair ofsprockets 4'5 while at' the vadjacent.

apex a pair of idler sprockets 46 are journalled on a shaft 41. At theremaining apex an idler shaft 48 is rotatably supported between theplates and is arranged to slide in slots 49 in accordance' with thesettingl of the set screws 50y carried by the plates and locked by checknuts- Mounted on this latter shaft 43' are sprockets' 52. Driven by thesprockets4'5 and meshing with idler sprockets 4B and 52 are a pair ofchains 53 carrying at intervals `slide brackets or blocks 54 supportedtherebetween in vertical orientation.

Mounted on the upper of the plates 42 are a pair of C-shaped brackets 55which project over the conveyor 3. Threading through these brackets 55lare spindles 56 operated by the hand controls 51. Carried at the lowerend of the spindles is av longitudinal cainbar 58 adaptedl toY beclamped against the inner faces 59V of the brackets 55 by the wingscrews 60 and car-rying the longitudinal camming bar 6I.

Carried on the lower endof the clamps 55 is a longitudinal guide bar 62,while a similar guide bar 63l is mounted on the spacers 43' and spacedinwardly of the bar 62.

Depending from the bar 62 on hangers 64l is a longitudinal cam bar 65and opposite thereto and inwardly thereof is a corresponding camy bar 66supported from theA lower of the plates 412 and offset longitudinallywith respect to the cam bar 65.

Each of the brackets or blocks 54' carried by the chains 53 carries onthe rearward face a ledge 61 engaging under the guide bar 63 and"rollers 63 rolling on the latter guide bar. The forward face of theblock or slide is closed by a plate 69 carrying a roller 1D operating onthe guide bar 62. The rollers 6'8 and 1-'0 andi ledge 51 co-operatingwith the respective guide bars serve to support the blocks for supportedand guided horizontal movement with the block moving above the conveyor3. Not only are the blocks in vertical register with the conveyor butthe speed of the conveyor and the speed of the' endless carrier formedby the chains 53', being derived from the same main drive shaft I0, are

regulated to operate at the same surface speed so that the blocks andconveyor move at the same surface speed While in vertical register.

Mounted in each of the slides or blocks 54 is a plunger 1l having aforked upper end 12 and a lower end formed into a platen 13. J ournalledin the upper end is a roller adapted to roll on the cam surface of thecamming bar 6l to depress the plunger during the major portion of theperiod that its block or slide is moving above the conveyor 3.

Above the platen the plunger is provided with a series of holes 16 and apair of presser segments 11 are pivoted on a pin 18 selectively receivedin one of the holes 16. Each of the presser segments has a slotted shank19, the ends of which are secured to the pin 18. The shank of theleft-hand segment 11 carries a roller 8l) projecting forwardly to engagethe cam bar 65, while the right-hand shank of the opposing pressersegment carries a roller 8l projecting to the rear to engage the cam bar5S.

Each of the presser segments has a slotted lip 82 overlying the shank 19and removably secured to the shank by the bolt 83 so that each pressersegment is readily removable and replaceable upon loosening of its bolt83.

Secured between the posts 84 carried by the slide brackets 54 and thepresser segments 11 are springs 85 which act to urge the pressersegments or elements to the open position of Figure 4, At the same timethese springs function to urge the plungers 1I upwardly to the positionsof Figures 4 and 5.

In the particular application for which the machine illustrated isintended the presser elements 11 are adapted to conform an excise stampor label to the top, neck and shoulders of a bottle. The pressersegments are thus formed with the particular presser surfaces 86 andthese surfaces, together with the surfaces of the platens 13 areprovided with a resilient covering, preferably of sponge rubber, 81,which is a medium deformable and conformable about the bottle surfaceyet permitting the application of an eiTective pressure against thelabel and bottle.

In operation, the bottles to be stamped or labelled are movedlongitudinally of the machine on the endless conveyor 3. The labels I4with a suitable adhesive coating applied by the gluepot assembly il aredeposited on the tops of the bottles as they pass therebeneath. Therewill be suiiicient adherence between the contacting label and bottleareas to temporarily hold the labels in position until they arrivebeneath the presser mechanism.

The timing of the conveyor 3 and the endless carrier formed by thechains 53 is, as explained, such as to bring the slide brackets orblocks 54 and their plungers 1! into vertical registration with thecontainer. The timing mechanism l5 permits this accurate registration tobe obtained.

As the endless carrier 53 and conveyor 3 are moving at the same surfacespeed there will be no relative motion between the plunger and bottletherebeneath as the two move longitudinally of the machine.

After the supporting slide and plunger 1l arrive above the bottle theplunger roller 15 is operated by the cam surface 58 to move downwardlyto bring its platen against the top of the bottle while pressingthereagainst to anchor the label in its correct position. Then therollers 83 and 8l of the presser segments or elements 11 engage the cambars 65 and 66 which are oifset to correspond to the displacement of therollers to swing CII the cam segments substantially in unison abouttheir pivot pin 18 to move the label down against the neck and shouldersof the bottle conforming it intimately to these surfaces, as shownparticularly in Figure 6. This relationship is maintained for the periodof the travel of the bottle beneath the presser mechanism until the endsof the cam bars and ES and the cam bar 8| are reached, at which time thesprings 35 operate the presser elements from their closed position torelease the container and bottle and move upwardly with the plunger.

By their pivotal mounting the presser segments 11, with the plungerdepressed to bottle co-operating position, are adapted to swing againstthe respective bottle segments to which they are adapted to conformwhile moving substantially normal thereto. In this way there is norolling or sliding over the label surfaces and the label will not bedisplaced or torn.

With the shape of a bottle there is a point of inflexion asA theshoulders flare outwardly from the neck as at 88, Figure 6, and there isan abrupt change of curvature at 89 in moving from the vertical to thehorizontal at the top of the bottle, and by subdividing the pressersurface into independently movable segments these segments can bearranged to close and mould the label-receiving surface regardless ofthe contour thereof.

If a surface were used merely shaped to conform to the containerlabel-receiving surface it would then require being frictionally forcedover the label with the resulting tearing or displacement.

By having the presser elements moving at the same speed as the containeror bottles the pressure on the label may be maintained for the desiredinterval to enable the adhesive carried by the label to set andpermanently bond the label in position.

Adjustment for a range of bottle or container sizes may be made byadjusting the position of the cam bar 6l through the operation of thespindles 56, and the cam bars 65 and 66 are preferably adjustablymounted on their supporting brackets to control the movement of thepresser segments 11. If a greater adjustment is required than thatpermitted through adjustment of the spindles 56 the entire platform canbe operated through hand Wheel 28 to move vertically as required.

It will be appreciated that the bottles or containers may have thelabels deposited thereon by mechanisms other than those disclosed hereinand in the said co-pending application, and the containers may belabelled in a separate machine `and deposited on a carrier movingbeneath the presser mechanism.

Additionally of course the shape of the articulated presser segmentswill be varied as may be their pivot mounting to conform to theparticular surface shape being labelled.

Provided the plunger and container are maintained against relativemovement after moving the plunger into contact with the container thepresser segments, although preferably operated in unison, may beoperated in sequence to label conforming position.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. In an automatic labelling or stamping machine, a main frame, anendless conveyor operating longitudinally of the frame in a straightline path, a stationary platform supported for vertical adjustment fromsaid main frame and extending thereabove, a label magazine carried bysaid platform, means carried by said platform to deliver a label fromsaid magazine to a container on said endless conveyor, means carried bysaid platform to apply adhesive to a label being delivered to acontainer, an endless carrier mounted on said platform and moving in astraight line above said conveyor for a portion of its travel, meansmoving said carrier at the same surface speed as said conveyor, a seriesof blocks carried by said carrier, means carried by said platformguiding said blocks for horizontal movement while moving above saidconveyor, a plunger reciprocally mounted in each block and having aroller on the upper end thereof and a presser foot on the lower end,support brackets carried by said platform and extending above saidconveyor and blocks, a stationary cam extending longitudinally of theconveyor carried by said brackets and engaged in rolling contact by saidrollers to cam said plungers, throughout a portion of the travel oftheir blocks above said conveyor, downwardly to bring their presser feetagainst a label and container on said conveyor, a pair of presserelements pivoted to each plunger and swingable on opposite sides of saidplunger presser foot and adapted to co-operate therewith upon swingingto conform to a predetermined container configuration, means urging saidpresser elements away from container-conforming relation, and individualstationary cam means carried from said platform engaging said presserelements upon depression of said plungers to swing said presser elementsindependently into container-conforming relation.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said presser elements areprovided with rollers, and said cam means for operating said presserelements comprise cam bars extending longitudinally of said conveyor andengaged in rolling contact by said presser element rollers.

3. A device as claimed in claim l in which said guide means for guidingsaid blocks in horizontal movement above said conveyor comprises railmembers extending longitudinally of said conveyor and arranged onopposite sides of said blocks in moving above said conveyor, and rollerscarried by said blocks and rolling on said rail members.

4. A device as claimed in claim l in which said support brackets areC-shaped and said cam carried by said brackets is vertically adjustablein said brackets, screw-threaded means determining the verticaladjustment of said latter cam, and clamp means locking said latter camin adjusted position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said presser elementscomprise each a forked shank embracing said plunger and pivoted thereto,and a container-conforming body portion adjustably and removably securedto said shank, said body portion having a slotted lip extension fittingover said shank, and means securing said lip to said shank in adjustedposition of said body portion on said shank.

6. In an automatic labelling or stamping machine, a conveyor, a normallystationary support structure supported for vertical adjustment abovesaid conveyor, a label-applying mechanism mounted on said supportstructure above said conveyor adjacent one end thereof to deposit alabel on a container in temporary adherence therewith throughout aportion of the label area, said conveyor moving in a straight line pathto maintain a straight line motion of said container and label, a secondendless carrier mounted on said support structure and moving above theaforesaid carrier in linear straight line motion at the same surfacespeed as the aforesaid carrier, a series of presser devices mounted onsaid second carrier and including carriages, track means mounted on saidsupport structure and on which said carriages run, a plungerreciprocally mounted in each of said carriages to move perpendicularlyto the direction of carrier movement, a container engaging pressersurface formation at the lower end of each plunger, said latter surfaceformation being divided into segments movable one relative the other topress against the label-receiving surface of the container while movingsubstantially normal thereto, stationary cam means mounted on saidsupport structure and engaging and operating said plungers to move saidpresser surface formation to a position from which said segments areadapted to move into container pressing relation, and individualstationary cam means mounted on said support structure and operatingsaid segments independently following plunger movement.

7. In an automatic stamping, labelling or like machine, a main frame, anendless carrier carried by said main frame to move containers to belabelled in a linear straight line path through the machine, a platformmounted on said frame for vertical adjustment above said carrier, meanscarried by said platform for depositing an adhesive-carrying label on acontainer being conveyed on said carrier, a second endless carriermounted on said platform and operating at the same surface speed as thefirst-mentioned carrier, track means carried by said platform andextending longitudinally above said first carrier, a series of carriagesguided by said track means and operated by said second endless carrierabove and at the same surface speed as said rst carrier, plungersreciprocally mounted in said carriages to move perpendicularly to thedirection of carrier movement, a container-engaging presser surfaceformation at the lower end of each plunger, said latter surfaceformation being divided into segments movable one relative to the other,a stationary cam carried by said platform engaging and operating saidplungers to move said presser surface formation to a position from whichsaid segments are adapted to move into container pressing relation, andstationary cam means operating said segments individually followingplunger movement.

8. A machine for labelling containers comprising in combination, anendless carrier to conduct a container in linear straight line motionthrough a machine, a support structure mounted for vertical adjustmentabove said carrier, label applying means mounted on said supportstructure and moving at the surfae speed of said carrier to bring theadhesive face of a label into contact with a container deposited on saidcarrier, presser means mounted on said support structure and movable ina linear straight line path at the same surface speed as and above saidcarrier and vertically reciprocal to apply pressure to a label andcontainer, and means to control the timing relation between said labelapplying means, said presser means and said endless carrier.

9. A labelling, stamping or like machine cornprising, a main frame unit,an endless carrier mechanism operating longitudinally of said mainframe, a platform, rack bars vertically slidable relative said mainframe supporting said platform above said main frame for verticaladjustment an elevating shaft journalled in said main frame, pinionmeans operating said rack bars, a drive connection between saidelevating shaft and pinion means, a label magazine mounted on saidplatform, a label drum mechanism rotatably mounted on said platformabove said carrier for depositing a label from said magazine onto acontainer on said endless carrier mechanism, a drive from said mainframe to said platform driving said drum at the surface speed of saidcarrier, an endless carrier mechanism mounted on said platform anddriven by said drive from said main frame at the surface speed of andoperating for a portion of its travel over the aforesaid carrier, avertically reciprocal presser means mounted on said latter endlesscarrier mechanism and mov- ,10 able upon vertical adjustment of saidplatform in unison with said label drum to adjust for size of containersplaced on said 'rst-mentioned endless carrier mechanism, and means forvertically reciprocating said presser means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,195,111 Kagley Mar. 26, 1940 2,238,436 Von Hofe Apr. 15,1941 2,244,796 Ogden Apr. 15, 1941 2,280,730 Talbot Apr. 2l, 19422,543,220 Ardell Feb. 27, 1951

